On Friday, July 12, Japan’s Ministry of Defense issued a warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased military exercises near Taiwan, exacerbating tensions in the region and potentially indicating preparations for an invasion of Taiwan. Japan also expressed concerns about joint military activities by China and Russia near Japan.
In its annual Defense White Paper released on Friday, Japan outlined its position on the escalating tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, as well as the intensifying competition between China and the United States. The report also assessed security threats, including those posed by North Korea and Russia.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated in the White Paper that “as China continues to strengthen its military capabilities, its activities in the East China Sea (including the Senkaku Islands) and the Pacific region have become more active.” The report highlighted North Korea’s progress in nuclear and missile development and Russia’s aggressive military activities in the Far East, including joint operations with China in the air and at sea.
The White Paper emphasized the growing tensions due to increased military activities around Taiwan by the CCP and highlighted concerns about the potential escalation of the situation. This marks the first time Japan has expressed worries about CCP military exercises near Taiwan in its Defense White Paper.
The report suggested that China seems intent on turning the increased military activities around Taiwan into a new norm for the region, exacerbating defense risks related to artificial intelligence, cyber security, and disinformation.
Since the inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as the new President of Taiwan, the CCP has ramped up military threats against Taiwan, conducting military exercises around the island as a form of “punishment.”
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, starting from July 10, there have been 37 instances of Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, H-6 bombers, KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and drones, conducting activities around Taiwan. Thirty-six of these instances involved crossing the “median line” of the Taiwan Strait and its extensions, flying from the southern part of Taiwan towards the southeast over the western Pacific Ocean to accompany the aircraft carrier “Shandong” in training exercises.
The Japan’s Ministry of Defense also expressed concerns in the White Paper about repeated joint deployments of Chinese and Russian warships near Japan, apparently aimed at showcasing military power, posing a serious concern from a national security perspective. Meanwhile, North Korea frequently conducts missile test launches towards Japan, posing a more severe and imminent threat to Japan’s national security than ever before.
China regularly dispatches ships to areas near the disputed islands in the East China Sea, reiterating its military ambitions as the biggest strategic challenge facing Japan and the world.
“The international community is facing its biggest test since World War II, with intensifying competition between countries, especially between the U.S. and China, which is escalating,” the White Paper said.
The report also stated, “Russia and China are increasingly strengthening their cooperation. There is a possibility of deepening military cooperation in the future, which will not only have a direct impact on our country’s security situation, but also strategic implications for the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation.”
Before Japan issued its warning, the NATO summit this week in Washington, DC, considered the CCP as a “decisive driver” of the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing Beijing’s systematic challenges to European security.
The Japan White Paper also outlined China’s strengthening military construction, noting that over the past 30 years, China has continuously increased defense spending opaquely, enhancing its military capabilities centered around nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and naval and air power. China plans to double its nuclear arsenal to over 1,000 warheads by 2030. China is also increasing production in naval vessels and submarines, as well as continuing to develop fighter jets and drones.
The White Paper highlighted that China’s military trends have raised close attention among Japan and the international community, calling for Japan to enhance its national power and cooperate with allied and like-minded countries in responding jointly.
On Monday, Japan signed a defense agreement with the Philippines allowing the deployment of troops on each other’s territories. Japan has also bolstered closer defense relations with countries such as Australia and South Korea.
As a long-standing ally of the United States, Japan has been strengthening defense ties with the U.S. to counter CCP military ambitions and infiltration.
The Defense White Paper is an annual report from Japan’s Ministry of Defense that provides an overview of the global defense situation, activities of the Self-Defense Forces over the past year, and major trends in world and Japanese defense. It was first published in 1970 and has been released annually since 1976. The White Paper is not a strategic document but a summary of defense developments over the year and the activities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse)